Best Phuket Beaches You Need to Visit in 2018

Phuket Beaches

Phuket Beaches are the main international gateway to the Thailand’s Andaman Coast, one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline and home to some of the best beaches in the world. As one of the most heavily touristed parts of Thailand, it has experienced rapid growth for the last few decades, which unfortunately, has led to overdevelopment in many areas of the island. However, Phuket is a big place and travelers will find plenty of different beaches offering a wide variety of activities!

Phuket Beaches – Patong

Phuket’s day and night Party Playground

For visitors looking to party, Patong is where all the action is.

Phuket Beaches – Patong The most iconic destination in Phuket, Patong Beach is renowned for its party atmosphere, pristine beach and wide range of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. It also offers quite a number of markets and stalls but can get quite crowded during peak tourist season due to its popularity.

Phuket Beaches – Kata Beach

A great place to learn to surf

Charms many visitors with its white sands and clear waters

Phuket Beaches – Kata Beach Very popular with families, Kata is an all round favourite due to its spectacular palm-lined beach, great restaurants, lively but not raucous nightlife and varied accommodation options – all close to the beach. From May to October surfers flock to catch Kata’s waves and from November to April the beach is alive with sunseekers.

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Phuket Beaches – Raya (Racha) and Coral Islands

Best White Sand Beaches

Escape to the White Sand Beaches

Phuket Beaches – Raya (Racha) and Coral Islands Just off the southern coast of Phuket, these 2 islands have some of the whitest sand beaches and clearest azure waters in Phuket. The snorkeling here is excellent, tropical fish are everywhere and easy to see in the clear waters. Scuba diving on Raya Island is also possible and can be done with or without a license.These islands make an easy day trip for snorkeling and lazing away on white sand beaches.

Phuket Beaches – Laguna Beach

A Great Family Beach Getaway

Fun for the whole family in a safe and clean environment

Phuket Beaches – Laguna Beach Laguna Beach is a long stretch of sand that is part of the Laguna complex of Phuket, which includes lots of golf courses, large resorts, and private villas. This area caters more for families and higher end tourism, so the beach is quiet and very well maintained. The beach is very long and some of the best beach clubs in Phuket can be found along the stretch. The Laguna complex also hosts most of Phuket’s sporting events, including the Phuket Marathon, Triathlon, and Ironman events.

Phuket Beaches – Nai Yang Beach

A Great Place to Learn Kitesurfing

The calm waters of Nai Yang Beach are perfect for kiteboarding

Phuket Beaches – Nai Yang Beach is one of the premier spots in Thailand for kite surfing, due to its consistent breeze, shallow water, and soft waves. The calm waters here also make it a great spot for some stand up paddle surfing! There are no jet skis here and only a few local boats ply the waters so you can surf to your heart’s content in the protected waters off the beach. The beach itself is also quieter and more serene than other Phuket beaches, with a more local vibe. A great place to relax after a board session or to laze away an afternoon.

Phuket Beaches – Mai Khao Beach

Best Beach for Privacy

Find your own private beach at Mai Khao, Phuket

Phuket Beaches – Mai Khao BeachAnother long stretch of beach north of Phuket International Airport, this area has seen some recent development of tastefully designed international resorts that have preserved the beach. Although not as picturesque as some of the other beaches, the area is very quiet and clean and is one of the best beaches for a family outing. At 9.5 km, this beach is the longest and Phuket and you are guaranteed to find some quiet spots along this stretch of sand.

Further away from Phuket

Phuket Beaches – Similan Islands

World Class Diving and Possibly the Beast Beaches in Thailand

Stunning National Park Archipelago off Khao Lak

Phuket Beaches – Similan Islands are a chain of islands forming a national park off the Khao Lak coast, 1 hour north of Phuket. One of the world’s best diving spots, the islands also have arguably the best beaches in Thailand due to the island’s protected status. Only limited amounts of camping are allowed on the island, so the beaches are beautiful and unspoiled. If you want to get away to an island paradise, this is the place to do it. If you are interested in diving or snorkeling, this is also one of the best dive spots in the world with almost 20 m of visibility and plenty of ocean life to discover. The islands are easily accessible from Phuket and makes a perfect day trip.

Phuket Beaches – Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Ley

Escape to the Beach

Maya Bay Beach on Ko Phi Phi Ley

Phuket Beaches – Maya Bay Beach on Ko Phi Phi Ley Nestled on the marine reserve of Ko Phi Phi Ley, the beach has been preserved from the overdevelopment seen on Phi Phi Don, where the bulk of tourists stay on their visit. The only way to visit Maya Bay is by boat from either Phi Phi Don, or mainland ports on Krabi or Phuket. The easiest way to visit is to join a day trip to the islands, but many tourists have the same idea so the beach can become very crowded at peak times. To see the beach with any privacy, you can charter a private charter boat or find a local longtail boat on Phi Phi Don to take you early in the morning before the crowds get in.